Tuesday, February 17, 2009

This Friday, February 20th, at 7:30 p.m., we kick off The Island Gallery's 3rd Spring Concert Series. Friday's program features Beau Metro Quartet playing Szymanowski: Quartet #2, Op.56; Shostakovich: Quartet #3, Op.73; and Schumann: Quartet #2, Op.42. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and can be purchased in advance at the gallery, or at the door the evening of the show.

Beau Metro Quartet is comprised of Stephen Bryant, violin; Tom Dziekonski, violin; Sue Jane Bryant, viola; and Virginia Dziekonski, cello. All four are highly respected artists not only in the Pacific Northwest, but nationally and internationally as well. Their precision performances, combined with the gallery's brilliant acoustics, have delighted audiences the last two seasons, making this series so popular that most past shows have sold out. This spring, seating will be slightly more limited, so if at the last minute you plan to attend, please call ahead!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Well, once again it was quite a night at the gallery as hundreds of townsfolk turned out and, spoons at the ready, sampled and voted on the 19 pudding entries. In all categories, the voting was exceptionally tight this year. There were several ties and no losers—every pudding was amazing. An extra vote here or there could easily have changed the outcomes! However, after several recounts and the occasional battle over hanging chads, here are the Official Results!

Our thanks to all the magnificent bakers who put their time, talents and hearts into this event. For more details, including the final amount raised for Helpline House, which is, after all, what this is all about, please stay tuned to our blog.

By the way: Is anyone interested in an official cookbook featuring the Bake-Off's Best Recipes? Let us know - we're considering it.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Here are several ways to make sure your splendiferous bread pudding is registered for the 4th Annual Bainbridge Island Bread Pudding Bakeoff, Friday, February 6, 2009:

1. Below is a downloadable copy of the Bread Pudding Bakeoff entry form and rules.

To download the form: Right-click on the image, hit Save As, and choose a file to save it on your computer. You can then print it, fill it in, and return the form via regular mail (address is on the form) with your $5.00 registration fee (checks are fine), or drop it off at the gallery no later than February 4th.

2. If you prefer, you can e-mail the required information (see sections 3 and 4) to sr@theislandgallery.net and call 206-780-9500 to register with a credit card.

Could it be any easier?

Yes!

3. Call 206-780-9500 and register over the phone. We'll fill in the form for you.

By the way, we neglected to include the following "rules": Participants should taste/vote early and often, and please encourage your friends to stuff the ballot box!

We will soon be announcing the details of our February show, opening the evening of the Bakeoff. Stay tuned!

What's this rumor about vast quantities of delicious bread pudding suddenly being prepared in kitchens all over Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County? About local restaurants dusting off their favorite recipes or inventing new ones, about local amateur bakers scrounging through granny's old cookbooks in search of the Perfect Pudding? All for a really, really good cause?

Well, it's true, and that glorious scent beginning to waft over the island means only one thing: one of the year's most popular events is right around the corner. On Friday, February 6, 2009 we sponsor our yearly benefit for Helpline House, also known as. . .

The 4th Annual Bainbridge Island Pro-AmBread Pudding Bakeoff!

Here's how it works:

Bakers, Pro and Am: Call or come in for a registration form (there's a small registration fee, $5 per entry, donated to Helpline House). Whip up your finest, most artful, sweet or savory bread pudding (or two, if you like). Bring it/them to the gallery around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, February 6th.

Tasters (i.e., everyone): Come to the gallery between6-8 pm to taste and vote on Bainbridge Island's Best Bread Pudding. Buy tickets, at $1.00 per ticket, each ticket entitling you to one taste of one pudding. Do Not Attempt To Control Yourself! Try as many puddings as you like.Every dollar you spend goes directly to Helpline House, our community food bank and resource center. You can even throw in a donation in addition to ticket purchases - it's for a good cause, folks!

February 1, 2008: Let the tasting begin!The locals dig in.

Voting: After you've sampled as many puddings as possible and if you are still standing, vote for your favorite by dropping your tickets in the lucky pudding's vote jar. You can apportion your votes, too, say by giving five votes to your favorite, three to your second favorite, and two to your third favorite (that's only $10 - a sweet deal!). Around 8:00 we count the votes, and hand out medals in the following categories: Bronze Runners-Up and Honorable Mentions; Silver, Amateur; Silver, Pro; Gold, Amateur; Gold, Pro; and Gold, Best of Show.

Last Year's Grand Prize Winner:

Ron Wade

Best of Show and Best Amateur gold medals

for his

Raisin Cloud Bread Pudding

with Croissants and Caramel Sauce.

The Money: Every penny we raise goes to Helpline House, including registration fees. Last year we raised over $800 for this worthy cause; this year, with your generosity, we'll do even better!

Bakers, check back soon - we'll try to post a downloadable registration form. In the meantime, if you're ready to sign up now, contact us at ssn@theislandgallery.net or sr@theislandgallery.net and we'll e-mail you a form. Please return before Wednesday, February 4, 2009, with all information filled in, and the registration fee. Or, call the gallery at 206-780-9500.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

The Island Gallery is delighted to announce that Seattle artist Alison Keogh will be giving a talk in the gallery on Sunday, January 18, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. Please join us as the artist discusses the techniques and inspirations for her stunning work (see posting below).

About Us

400 Winslow Way E., #120, Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States

Established in 2002, The Island Gallery features the work of internationally recognized artists in the fields of studio furniture and sculpture; museum quality textile art and wearables; wood fired ceramics; paintings and prints; and unique jewelry creations. Our monthly exhibitions include live musical concerts, featuring such genres as jazz, rock, folk, chamber music and performance art. This, along with its reputation for excellence, makes The Island Gallery a destination spot on beautiful Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle.
On this blog we will have an opportunity to quickly post news of our latest acquisitions and favorite things, to relay information on upcoming events both in the gallery and in the area, and to hear back from you.
Phone: 206.780.9500
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11-6pm; Saturday, 10-6pm; Sunday, 12-5pm.